Page 47 - ISSUE 2

GRAPPLER Fall 2018

The Burmese Worker

The alley was dark. Flickering lights exposed a “Get a job, work everyday, and on the two days
bathroom to our left. Another small Thai man used a month you don’t work try and find something to
free shot coupons to lure us across the threshold, entertain yourself,” he said through a smile.
into his bar and down the stairs leading to the beach.
The backdrop of a moonlit ocean and boulders set the The Burmese military, according to Wow, goes town
stage for the fire show, that had just begun. to town harassing villagers and the local population.
This is driven by what is perceived, or insisted upon
With each throw of the flaming chains, each depending whom you ask, to be a history of corruption.
improvised dance move to this Summer’s Greatest This has stifled the possibility for legitimate work
Hits, the slender, athletic Burmese performers and driven a large amount of immigrant workers to
displayed skills that would make any sports coach Thailand, in this case the shores of Koh Tao, in the
practice their recruitment pitch. Focus, flexibility, hopes of supporting loved ones back home.
strength, body awareness, teamwork, humility-
these guys had it all. Imagine if they had disposable “Of course I miss my family,” Wow explains, but he
time and energy to pour into grappling! has to work to help them out, so why not try and enjoy
the little moments when he’s free to engage with some
From listening to Wow, one of the servers tell travelers at a restaurant.
it, a majority of these workers treat Thailand as
somewhat of a work deployment.

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